Stolen Rolex

[ingoodtime]

Ok, so it has been two days and Rolexertion has not posted any seller information or a planned resolution. I understand that sometimes things don't happen quickly but Rolexertion seems very calm about the situation. I would be having a meltdown.

[Michael M.]

Wow! Hope you get your money back!

[dannyp]

In addition to opening disputes with PayPal/your credit card company, I would call the local police in the seller's jurisdiction. If there is a return address on the package you were shipped, then you can send the cops there and perhaps when they arrive the seller will be more forthcoming with your refund.

[cgjane]

updates? anything in writing from RSC? Email/ letter/ Phone call? anything?

[PepsiGMTII]

Very sorry to hear about your situation and hope it gets resolved quickly.

[pawnshopkiller]

"More stolen items are sold on ebay than all of the black markets all over the world combined." Not my quote but someone from local law enforcement.

[Medtech]

I wouldn't blame Rolex for this. Once you are aware that you have stolen merchandise the only legal option is to return it to it's rightful owner. Everyone prior to that loses.

If you can prove that anyone in the chain knew it was stolen, they can be prosecuted. Plain and simple.

As far as blaming all the sellers, if they did a check on every watch, that means every used watch would go up by $150. For the very small chance a watch might be stolen, it just doesn't make sense. If the buyer wants to check, then they should check prior to purchasing (it's called due diligence).

Also, I believe Rolex requires a police or insurance report in order to register a watch as stolen.

As they say, "Buyer be ware"...

[cgjane]

Originally Posted by Medtech

As far as blaming all the sellers, if they did a check on every watch, that means every used watch would go up by $150. For the very small chance a watch might be stolen, it just doesn't make sense. If the buyer wants to check, then they should check prior to purchasing (it's called due diligence)...

That's the problem we have no recourse for due diligence.

[rkrdr]

Originally Posted by Medtech

As far as blaming all the sellers, if they did a check on every watch, that means every used watch would go up by $150. For the very small chance a watch might be stolen, it just doesn't make sense. If the buyer wants to check, then they should check prior to purchasing (it's called due diligence).

Does this mean the seller (who undoubtedly bought the watch from someone, and was therefore a buyer) should be responsible for due diligence?

[joejeweler]

It's probably more that Rolex believes they would get far fewer "stolen"
watches in for service if we could easily call up and ask the status of any
serial numbered watch! Those watches would then never be submitted to
an authorized SC, and be serviced instead by an independant watchmaker.

I recently had the misfortune of buying my 5 year old Rolex Datejust off
ebay, only to find out when i sent it in a few weeks ago that the serial
number and reference numbers had been changed, and Rolex USA woul be
returning the watch to me unserviced.

I was told to contact the seller, which i did even before i recieved the watch back from Rolex USA. When the seller got the watch back, their watchmaker
agreed the numbering was a bit off. (nothing really obvious to the naked eye, however).

They checked the dealer where they had purchased it, and found out the
original authorized dealer had changed the numbers because they were
deep discounting the watch to raise some cash, and didn't want to get in
hot water with Rolex.

Anyway, the seller to me has a great reputation on ebay, and offered to
service the watch at no charge for life. I requested that this free servicing be
transferable to at least one other person, should i ever decide to sell. If
i ever do i will be quite clear to any buyer of the situation. They also said
i could sell the watch back to them if i ever wanted to.

The watch has been out a few weeks now, and should be finished this week.
Since Rolex initially said servicing would be around $600.00 , i figure after
several servicings, the watch will be "free" should i live that long. (54 now)

It's a 18K/SS Datejust with the newer oyster band/clasp, white dial with bold
roman rumbers and my favorite everyday watch as it's so easy to read as
long as there is some light. Rolex USA told me initially to insure it for
$9,300.00 , which is probably the current MSRP. (i paid $5,600 5 years ago)

.....looking foreward to getting it back shortly.

Originally Posted by snowbird

I wish Rolex USA took that approach, they consider that info a big secret.

[SkyKing31]

24 hours is being considerate .. After that, call you're lawyer

[Rolex116520]

Originally Posted by joejeweler

It's probably more that Rolex believes they would get far fewer "stolen"
watches in for service if we could easily call up and ask the status of any
serial numbered watch! Those watches would then never be submitted to
an authorized SC, and be serviced instead by an independant watchmaker.
.

Exactly true ! I remember a friend of mine calling Rolex in Paris to check a watch serial against the stolen list . He was told that they stopped giving out that info over phone or fax like they used to . The reason given was that each time they were given a number that corresponded to one on the list they would never hear from the caller again let alone ever see the watch .
They since retrieve 5 times more stolen watches when they come in for service .

[Al1988]

I hope you get your money back.

I have to say ttories like these give me hope that one day my Sub and GMT will get handed in for a service and can finally be returned to me

[watchf]

Wow this is truely scary and I was just opening up to the idea of getting pre-owned. I have to think hard if I want to get pre-owned again.

[greekbum]

As far as I know there is no way for anybody to know if a Rolex watch has been stolen unless they send it in to Rolex for a service. Having said that the best and only way for a dealer or customer is to have documentation to fall back on in case this happens. The dealers don't know and cant check if a watch is on Rolex's stolen watch list. Even independent Rolex account watchmakers who have to give Rolex a serial number when ordering parts cant find out and to the best of my knowledge are not informed if a watch was stolen that they serviced.

[rolexertion]

Originally Posted by Medtech

I wouldn't blame Rolex for this. Once you are aware that you have stolen merchandise the only legal option is to return it to it's rightful owner. Everyone prior to that loses.

Nobody is 'blaming Rolex'. In fact I thanked them for keeping a database of stolen merchandise. Otherwise it would be close to impossible to find out if a watch is stolen.

Originally Posted by Medtech

As far as blaming all the sellers, if they did a check on every watch, that means every used watch would go up by $150. For the very small chance a watch might be stolen, it just doesn't make sense. If the buyer wants to check, then they should check prior to purchasing (it's called due diligence).

For someone who has strongly-stated opinions, you appear to know shockingly little about the subject matter. First, it's the seller's legal responsibility to establish that an item for sale is not stolen. If that costs $150, then that's part of the cost of doing business. I would have been pleased to pay $150 more for the item if it avoided the problem that occurred. Second, how would you suggest the buyer 'should check prior to purchasing'? Rolex is the only entity that maintains a database, and as has been clearly stated in this thread, they won't reveal the information until they have the watch in their possession. In addition, sellers for obvious reasons avoid disclosing the serial number of items prior to sale, even if another database were available.

Originally Posted by Medtech

As they say, "Buyer be ware"...

The buyer 'be wared' by paying via a method that allows redress if the transaction turns out to be fraudulent for any reason, and by going immediately to Rolex to find out if the watch was bona fide when it arrived. I have advised everyone here to do that when buying from someone you don't have first-hand knowledge of. There are more stolen Rolexes circulating out there than you might think, and it would not be pleasant to find out that one you bought was stolen, when it goes in for service five years later. The $150 is money well spent, trust me on that.

For those who missed it, I posted a follow-up to the initial story. Ebay put an agent onto my case the same day I phoned them. That agent stayed on the case, contacted Rolex on his own to establish the facts of the case, and followed up until the refund was issued. The process took about 2-3 weeks. I am pleased with their diligence and with the outcome. I already bought another Rolex to replace the stolen one, and took that one to RSC immediately as well. It is not stolen, and Rolex is doing a full service. It is expected to be back in my hands in just a few days. Thanks to everyone for your kind comments and good wishes.

[mitchy]

Originally Posted by greekbum

As far as I know there is no way for anybody to know if a Rolex watch has been stolen unless they send it in to Rolex for a service. Having said that the best and only way for a dealer or customer is to have documentation to fall back on in case this happens. The dealers don't know and cant check if a watch is on Rolex's stolen watch list. Even independent Rolex account watchmakers who have to give Rolex a serial number when ordering parts cant find out and to the best of my knowledge are not informed if a watch was stolen that they serviced.

um Rolex Melbourne in Australia still gives out info over the phone i called them about my second hand expII in feb and they took my number and serial number and said they would be in touch, 5 mins later they called back saying it wasnt reported stolen nor had it ever been in for a service with Rolex.
so give Melbourne a call

[watchf]

Originally Posted by x06verdm

um Rolex Melbourne in Australia still gives out info over the phone i called them about my second hand expII in feb and they took my number and serial number and said they would be in touch, 5 mins later they called back saying it wasnt reported stolen nor had it ever been in for a service with Rolex.
so give Melbourne a call

Is the database a global central database? Someone mentioned on this thread its only location/country based. What number did you call?

[paddy_crow]

I can fill in a few details. Having had my 34 year old Rolex stolen, I'm glad to hear that the process does work.

When my watch was stolen, I did quite a bit of research and learned that my first step was to file a police report. I tried to contact Rolex USA directly, but was told to work with my local AD. I went to the AD that last serviced the watch, they contacted Rolex and submitted my S/N to them. The police report was required. I was told that if my watch is ever recovered, it would be turned over to the police department where the report was filed.

A person would have to be a fool to file a false police report and risk jail time in order to abuse this process.

While the seller of stolen property may have been ignorant of its status, they are still liable. They must seek their redress with the person from whom they obtained it.

[Rollie2011]

Any updates?

[girltime]

rolexertion,

Glad to hear everything worked out for you. Thank you for sharing your story and congrats on your new purchase.

[rajurama]

Just Say someone bought a watch from an AD then decides to sell it and its done in a clean transaction and unfortunately the 2nd or even 3rd buyer loses the watch and reports, so then technically RSC ll return it to the original buyer only....

[bewithabob]

Who is the seller?

[rolexertion]

Originally Posted by rajurama

Just Say someone bought a watch from an AD then decides to sell it and its done in a clean transaction and unfortunately the 2nd or even 3rd buyer loses the watch and reports, so then technically RSC ll return it to the original buyer only....

? Where did you get that logic? No, Rolex returns it to the police who took the report on the theft. Then it goes back to that owner or to the insurance company which paid the claim.

[rolexertion]

The seller was an ebay dealer who goes by 'masv29'. Ebay investigated the case very competently, confirming with Rolex, etc., and paid the refund in full within a couple of weeks after I contacted them. They presumably will obtain the money back from the seller.

I found out later the seller blocked me from purchasing more items from him. LOL! Talk about redundant actions! I'm sure I would ever buy from him in the future anyway!

[bkandj2000]

Originally Posted by rolexertion

The seller was an ebay dealer who goes by 'masv29'. Ebay investigated the case very competently, confirming with Rolex, etc., and paid the refund in full within a couple of weeks after I contacted them. They presumably will obtain the money back from the seller.

I found out later the seller blocked me from purchasing more items from him. LOL! Talk about redundant actions! I'm sure I would ever buy from him in the future anyway!

The seller has a few interesting items listed. Notice the last line in this listing:


Seller info
Member id masv29 ( Feedback Score Of 1874)
99.1% Positive feedback


"VTG STAINLESS STEEL AIR KING PRECISION ROLEX MEN'S SWISS WATCH


Mechanically condition is great and working.
Crystal is in Perfect near mint condition.

Case: Stainless steel


Movement: Automatic Movememt, 27 jewels movement.
Brand: Rolex Swiss Made.
Dial: Grey dial (Signed). (Dial has never been touched, it is in original condition).

Please see pictures for details.


Size: 34 mm with crown.

Bracelet: Original Rolex Stainless Steel Bracelet .


Watch will perfectly fits a 6 3/4 inches wrist



NO BOX OR PAPERS I ONLY SEND THE WATCH."

[watchf]

Originally Posted by rolexertion

The seller was an ebay dealer who goes by 'masv29'. Ebay investigated the case very competently, confirming with Rolex, etc., and paid the refund in full within a couple of weeks after I contacted them. They presumably will obtain the money back from the seller.

I found out later the seller blocked me from purchasing more items from him. LOL! Talk about redundant actions! I'm sure I would ever buy from him in the future anyway!

Put that ebay seller into the dodgy seller category but I doubt I will buy a Rolex on ebay.